Mt Howitt vs The Grampians

[EPICEXPLORER]

Thanks, lots of great help from everyone, that's all I need.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have walked up SNS about three tmes and descended it once. I took a bit of minor tumble coming down it but nothing bad happened.That was lucky.
I have walked up and down the Howitt spur a number of times. It is longer but less scrambly IMHO.
The track is more obvious to follow too.
Don't go up the Howitt spur when it is hot.
The Grampians would be too hot in November. Even in October some of those walks are too hot for my liking.
Water is easy to find in the Buller- Howitt area in November but it can become quite cold quite suddenly with snow, icy winds and poor visibility.
Pick a good weather window.
The trip up from Heyfield and Licola to Howiit Plains is a long drive on a road that is in its final 40 kms , only open between mid Nov. and June.
It can be a bit muddy, or dusty or rocky but overall should be okay for an AWD softroader car.
The fresher you start the better your trip will be. So I have driven up from Licola and had some highly enjoyable and successful
walking trips out there over the years.
The hike up from the Howqua valley is a stiff up hill walk!.
There is a camp site between Mt. Magdala and Big Hill which has water access in late spring and December at Hellfire creek.
It is a beautiful , sheltered noteworthy place to hike into and camp in the area.
Wild flowers in Nov . have not started doing their thing yet in the Buller- Howitt area.

[Guybie]

looking forward to heading up later today. thanks for all the tips here. looking forward to Stanley name spur track and the crosscut tomorrow.